Growth and reproduction of invasive Vincetoxicum rossicum and V. nigrum under artificial defoliation and different light environments

Botany ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1279-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey R. Milbrath

The exotic vines Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar. and Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench have become increasingly invasive in low- and high-light habitats in North America, and a biological control program is being developed. These plants experience little damage in North America, so it is unclear how they might respond to introduced herbivores. I conducted an artificial defoliation study on seedlings and mature plants of V. rossicum and V. nigrum grown under different light environments. Under high light, V. nigrum produced more seed and allocated more resources to aboveground tissue (root:shoot ratios < 1), whereas V. rossicum allocated more resources to roots with root:shoot ratios of 1.9 for mature plants and > 3 for seedlings. These differences disappeared with shading. Increasing frequencies of 100% defoliation caused greater reductions in biomass and seed production for both species and plant stages. Shading further reduced biomass and no seed was produced. Defoliation of shaded, but not unshaded, plants caused high mortality. Additional cutting of stem tips increased branching only. Defoliation may be effective against Vincetoxicum plants growing in low-light environments such as forest understories, but appears to be of more limited value in high-light environments unless repeated defoliation occurs.


Botany ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A.D. Doubleday ◽  
Naomi Cappuccino

Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar. (Apocynaceae) is an exotic invasive perennial vine that is spreading rapidly throughout northeastern North America. Its spread threatens native plant communities and the animals that depend on them. While V. rossicum is known to have specialist insect herbivores in its native range, it has escaped herbivory in its introduced range. A biological control program is currently being developed to identify an insect agent that could be released in North America to control V. rossicum . In this study, we simulated leaf and root herbivory on individual plants in naturally occurring populations of V. rossicum to estimate the impact of different feeding guilds and damage levels on seed production in sunny and shady sites. Damage intensity (0%, 30%, 60%, or 90% tissue removal) had a greater impact on seed output than damage type (root vs. leaf), although root damage was slightly more effective than leaf damage. We discuss the implications for biological control programs targeting this invasive exotic plant.



1962 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. Brown ◽  
R. C. Clark

Over the past ten years a number of exotic predators have been introduced into New Brunswick and other parts of North America as part of a biological control program against the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.). Several of these have become established and others show considerable promise. As introductions continue it becomes exceedingly important that field workers be able to distinguish rapidly all stages of introduced and native predators. Field identification characters for some species (Chamaemyiidae and Syrphidae) have been published in previous papers in this series (Brown and Clark, 1956, 1960; Clark and Brown, 1957) and have been found to be very useful.



1960 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Clark ◽  
N. R. Brown

Although Laricobius rubidus LeConte (1861, 1866) is not a common predator of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), this paper is included in the series because of the close taxonomic similarities of L. rubidus in all stages to the recently introduced L. erichsonii Rosenh. In the past there has been confusion in the literature because the majority of records of rubidus have been erroneously attributed to erichsonii. These records have been discussed in detail in a paper on L. erichsonii, a species which has been introduced into North America as part of a biological control program against A. piceae (Clark and Brown, 1958).



2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Blossey ◽  
Stacy B. Endriss ◽  
Richard Casagrande ◽  
Patrick Häfliger ◽  
Hariet Hinz ◽  
...  

AbstractDevelopment of a biological control program for invasive Phagmites australis australis in North America required 20 years of careful research, and consideration of management alternatives. A recent paper by Kiviat et al. (Biol Invasions 21:2529–2541, 2019. 10.1007/s10530-019-02014-9) articulates opposition to this biocontrol program and questions the ethics and thoroughness of the researchers. Here we address inaccuracies and misleading statements presented in Kiviat et al. (2019), followed by a brief overview of why biological control targeting Phragmites in North America can be implemented safely with little risk to native species. Similar to our colleagues, we are very concerned about the risks invasive Phragmites represent to North American habitats. But to protect those habitats and the species, including P. australis americanus, we come to a different decision regarding biological control. Current management techniques have not been able to reverse the invasiveness of P. australis australis, threats to native rare and endangered species continue, and large-scale herbicide campaigns are not only costly, but also represent threats to non-target species. We see implementation of biocontrol as the best hope for managing one of the most problematic invasive plants in North America. After extensive review, our petition to release two host specific stem miners was approved by The Technical Advisory Group for the Release of Biological Control Agents in the US and Canadian federal authorities.





Weed Science ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Blossey ◽  
Dieter Schroeder ◽  
Stephen D. Hight ◽  
Richard A. Malecki

Introduction of purple loosestrife into North America and its spread into wetlands has led to the degradation of these important habitats for wildlife. Conventional control efforts are unsuccessful in providing long-term control. A classical biological control program offers the best chance for reducing the numbers of this invasive plant and improving regeneration of the native flora and fauna. European studies demonstrated that the root boring weevil Hylobius transversovittatus is highly host specific to the target weed. Attack of two test plant species (winged lythrum and swamp loosestrife) during host range screening was most likely due to artificial test conditions. An environmental assessment of the potential effects of the release of the purple loosestrife borer in North America indicated that benefits outweigh any potential negative impact Therefore its field release was approved in 1992.



EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]





1986 ◽  
Vol 41 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Wild ◽  
Matthias Höpfner ◽  
Wolfgang Rühle ◽  
Michael Richter

The effect of different growth light intensities (60 W·m-2, 6 W·m-2) on the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of mustard plants (Sinapis alba L.) was studied. A distinct decrease in photosystem II content per chlorophyll under low-light conditions compared to high-light conditions was found. For P-680 as well as for Oᴀ and Oв protein the molar ratio between high-light and low-light plants was 1.4 whereas the respective concentrations per chlorophyll showed some variations for P-680 and Oᴀ on the one and Oв protein on the other hand.In addition to the study of photosystem II components, the concentrations of PQ, Cyt f, and P-700 were measured. The light regime during growth had no effect on the amount of P-700 per chlorophyll but there were large differences with respect to PQ and Cyt f. The molar ratio for Cyt f and PQ between high- and low-light leaves was 2.2 and 1.9, respectively.Two models are proposed, showing the functional organization of the pigment system and the electron transport chain in thylakoids of high-light and low-light leaves of mustard plants.



2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7816
Author(s):  
Vivek Kumar ◽  
Lucky Mehra ◽  
Cindy L. McKenzie ◽  
Lance S. Osborne

The early establishment of a biocontrol agent in the production system, whether in the greenhouse, nursery, or field, is essential for the success of the biological control program, ensuring growers’ profitability. In an effort to develop a sustainable pest management solution for vegetable growers in Florida, we explored the application of a preemptive biological control strategy, “Predator-In-First” (PIF), in regulating multiple pepper pests, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, and Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks under greenhouse and field conditions during different growing seasons. In these studies, two bell pepper cultivars (7039 and 7141) and the phytoseiid mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias–Henriot were used as a model system. Pepper seedlings (~8 week) of each cultivar were infested with varying rates of A. swirskii (20 or 40 mites/plant or one sachet/10 plant) and allowed to settle on plant hosts for a week before planting in pots or field beds. Results showed a comparative consistent performance of the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids (40 mites/plant) in regulating B. tabaci and F. occidentalis populations in greenhouse studies, and B. tabaci and P. latus pests under field conditions. During two fall field seasons, higher marketable yields of 12.8% and 20.1% in cultivar 7039, and 24.3% and 39.5% in cultivar 7141 were observed in the treatment with the high rate of phytoseiids compared to the untreated control, indicating yield benefits of the approach. The outcome of the study is encouraging and demonstrates that PIF can be an important tool for organic vegetable growers and a potential alternative to chemical-based conventional pest management strategies. The advantages and limitations of the PIF approach in Florida pepper production are discussed.



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